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Effect of Antenatal Corticosteroids on Fetal Growth and Gestational Age at Birth Full Text
Obstetrics and Gynecology, 04/24/2012
Clinical Article
Murphy KE et al. – Fetuses exposed to multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids were smaller at birth. The reduction in size was partially attributed to being born at an earlier gestational age but also was attributed to decreased fetal growth. Finally, a dose–response relationship exists between the number of corticosteroid courses and a decrease in fetal growth. The long–term effect of these findings is unknown.
Methods- This is a secondary analysis of the Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Birth Study, a double–blind randomized controlled trial of single compared with multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids in women at risk for preterm birth and in which fetuses administered multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids weighed less, were shorter, and had smaller head circumferences at birth.
- All women (n=1,858) and children (n=2,304) enrolled in the Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Birth Study were included in the current analysis.
- Multiple linear regression analyses were undertaken.
- Compared with placebo, neonates in the antenatal corticosteroids group were born earlier (estimated difference and confidence interval [CI]: -0.428 weeks, CI -0.10264 to -0.75336; P=.01).
- Controlling for gestational age at birth and confounding factors, multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids were associated with a decrease in birth weight (-33.50 g, CI -66.27120 to -0.72880; P=.045), length (-0.339 cm, CI -0.6212 to -0.05676]; P=.019), and head circumference (-0.296 cm, -0.45672 to -0.13528; P<.001).
- For each additional course of antenatal corticosteroids, there was a trend toward an incremental decrease in birth weight, length, and head circumference.
